Automatic device for photographic purposes.



EATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. W. H. GREENE.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

# hGr-ee 72/6 1951' can;

No. 809,369. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. W. H. GREENE.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIO PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21. 1905.

2 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

WILLIAM HFGREENE. OF PROPHETSTO'WN, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC' PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed April 21, 1905. Serial No. 256,753.

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. GREENE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Prophetstown, in the county of Whiteside and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticDevices for Photographic Purposes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention consists of a simple device particularly adapted for usein photographic operations, and designed especially for automaticallyactuating the shutter of the camera or for operating means for firing aflash-lamp or the like.

As is well known, a picture is often considered incomplete andunsatisfactory because the person who is taking the same cannot usuallybe included in the picture, since he has to operate the camera, theflash-light, or some similar means; and it is the essential objectofthis invention, therefore, to enable such a person by means of thedevice comprising said invention to arrange all the details, such asgrouping, &c., and then by adjustment of the device comprising theinvention he may connect the same with the camera or with theflash-light or such means, so that same may be automatically operated ata predetermined time, as desired, and such time will be ample for him totake his place and be included in the picture, whatever it may be.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of adevice comprising this invention, the jacket surrounding the parts beingpartially broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partsarranged in positions assumed thereby when the device is not in use.Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the device being set preparatory tooperating parts with which it may be con nected. Fig. 4. is a sideelevation of a modified adaptation of the invention for use inautomatically closing an electric circuit which may fire a flash-lightor the like. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the connection which may be usedfor connecting the device with a flash-lamp.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In the preferred construction of the 1 nvention the same consists of apneumaticallyoperating device, and for this purpose it s preferred toemploy two cylinders 1 and 2, 1n which operate pistons 3 and 4. Thecyhnders 1 and 2 may be connected in any suitable way to form asubstantial device and are preferably surrounded by a acket or shell 5for purposes of appearance and to house the cylinders. The pistons 3 and1 are provlded with suitable piston-rods 6 and 7, respectively, saidrods passing through the upper heads 8 of the cylinders in which theyare mounted. It is preferred to form the heads 8 as removable caps inorder to have access to the interior of the cylinders 1 and 2 andtofacilitate the removal of the pistons and mterior parts for the,purposes of repair or otherwise. Each piston rod is provided with asuitable handle 9 at its upper extremity exterior of the cylinders 1 and2, said handles enabling the pistons to be drawn to the upperextremities of the cylinders, as Wlll be described hereinafter. Thepiston-rodsfi and '7 are of tubular or hollow formation, and a spring 10is arranged in each piston rod, sald spring being connected at one endwlth lts adj acent piston-rod near the upper end portlon of the latter,as shown at 11, the opposite end of each spring being attached to a stem12, which is removably attached to the lower head of each cylinder. Thestem 12 is threaded at its lower extremity and passes through the lowerhead of the cylinder, receiving a suitable nut 13 and washer 14,interposed between said nut and the cylinder-head. Each stein 12 has aninner flange 15 abutting against the inner side of the lower end of eachcylinder.

Near the lower extremity of the cylinder 2 or arranged in any suitableposition upon the cylinder is an air-valve 16, preferably of the needletype, and said air-valve is adapted to admit of escape of air from thecylinder 2 in the actual operation of the device. The valve 16 isadjustable, and the air is thus permitted to escape more or lessquickly, according to the adjustment of said valve. Leading from thelower portion of the cylinder 1 is an air outlet tube 17. It will benoted that when the handles 9 are grasped and the pistons 3 and 4 forcedto the upper portions of the cylinders in which they are mounted airwill be drawn into the lower portions of the cylinders, and theprovision of the springs 10 affords a means normally tending to hold thepistons near the lower extremities of said cylinders. As shown in Fig.2, the pistons 3 and 4 are mainly comprised of flexible disks orwashers, and the piston-rods 6 and 7 fit loosely in the heads or caps 8of the cylinders, so that in withdrawing the pistons 3 and 4 air maypass into the upper portions and pass by the pistons into the lowerportions of the said cylinders. The pressure of the air upon the undersides of the pistons 3 and 4 serves to expand the same, so that theyvirtually have an airtight joint with the cylinders and prevent the airfrom escaping. The pistons 3 and 4 are of a form commonly employed invarious ways. The pistonrod 6 in the cylinder 1, however, is adapted tobe locked in its with drawn position after the piston 3 has been forcedtoward the upper portion of the cylinder 1 by means of a catch 18, whichis piv oted to the head 8 of the cylinder 1, as shown at 19, anexpansive coil-spring 20 being interposed between said catch 18 and thehead 8 aforesaid, so that the catch is normally held in contact with thepiston-rod 6. One end of the catch 18 is adapted to engage in a groove21, formed in the lower extremity of the piston-rod 6, and the oppositeend of the catch extends into proximity with the pistonrod 7 of thecylinder 2. Near the upper portion of the pistonrod 7 is located anannular projection or flange 22 integrally or otherwise connectedtherewith, and this projection 22 is designed to come into contact withthe adja cent end of the catch 18 to actuate said catch and disengagethe latter from the pistonrod 6, whereupon the piston 3 under theinfluence of the spring 10 cooperating therewith will besuddenly forcedtoward the lower end of the cylinder 1 in which it is mounted.

Describing the actual operation of the device above set forth the sameis particularly constructed for use with cameras the shutters of whichare operated by a pressure-bulb in actual use, and the device issubstituted for the pressure-bulb, the tube 17, which leads from thecylinder 1, being connected for the operation of the shutter in the samemanner as the pressure bulb would ordinarily be connected. In taking apicture the operator will properly focus and adjust the camera and, ifnecessary, group persons if the picture includes any persons. The valve16 being closed and the camera being ready for the exposure the handle 9of the pistonrod 7 is grasped and the piston 4 is pulled toward theupper extremity of its handle against the tension of its spring 10. Thepiston 33 is now disposed in a similar position by operating thepistonrod 6 thereof, and when said piston has reached a predeterminedposition in its upper movement the catch 18 will engage in the groove 21thereof. The operator now opens the valve 16 more or less, dependingupon how much time he desires to allow be fore the movement of thepiston 4 will bring the projection 22 into contact with the lever 18,and then the operator may step into the range of the camera or placehimself among the group of persons who are to be photographed, as thecase may be, and the gradual escape of the air from the cylinder -2 willcause the piston 4 to gradually move toward the lower end of thecylinder under the influenee of the spring 10. At a predetermined timethe projection 22, striking the catch 18, will disengage said catch fromthe piston-rod 6, and the sudden movement of the piston 3 toward thelower extremity of the cylinder 1, actuated by its spring 10, will forceair through the tube 17 and operate the shutter of the camera in theWell-known manner.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a modification of the invention in which asingle cylinder 23 is used with a piston operating therein, said pistonhaving a piston-rod 25 with a handle 26 and projection 27, the parts 23,25, 27, and 26 being virtually the same as the parts 2, 7, 22, and 9shown in the preferred construction of the invention. The device in Fig.4 is designed primarily for automatically closing an electric circuit,which may be connected with a flash-lamp for firing the latter or use ina similar way. As an attachment for use in connection with the device asmall casing 28 is preferably secured to a side of the cylinder 23, andterminals of wires 29 included in the electric circuit are insulated inthe casing 28 aforesaid, suitable contacts being provided therefor. Itis designed that the terminals of the wires 29 in the casing 28 beelectrically connected by a contact member arranged in the casing, saidcontact member being actuated by an arm 30, pivoted to the casing andextending at one end into the path of movement of the projection 27,carried by the piston-rod 25. The pistonrod. 25 being spring-actuatedand the cylinder 23 having a suitable valve 31 to permit the air toescape therefrom, it will be seen that when the piston connected withthe piston rod 25 is forced toward the upper extremity of the cylinder23 and the valve 31 opened to an adjustment determined by the operatorthe movement of the piston-rod 25 under the actuation of its spring willforce the projection 27 into engagement with the pivoted arm or member30, said member being moved so as to electrically connect the terminalsof the wires 29, and thus close the circuit whicl fires the flash-light.

Under certain conditions the device shown in Fig. 1 might be soconnected with a flashlamp to furnish a blast therefor, and in Fig. 5 isillustrated the connection which would be made between the parts. Thenumeral 32 in Fig. 5 indicates a tube which would be operativelyconnected with the cylinder 1 and substituted for the tube 17, the tube32 having ating said catch, a valve for the cylinder 2,

connection with the flash-light lamp'34 to supply air thereto and havinga valve 33- in the length thereof to govern the force of the air passingthrough said tube 32 and to be operated in an obvious manner by the userof the mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In adevice of the class described, the combination of a cylinder and apiston therefor, a second cylinder and piston, means for actuating saidpistons, means for holding one of said pistons in a predeterminedposition, and means operable by the other piston for actuating theholding means coacting with the piston above mentioned.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cylinder, avalved outlet for said cylinder, a second cylinder, springactuatedpistons operating in the cylinders, piston-rods for said pistons, meansfor holding the piston-rod of the second-mentioned cylinder in anascertained position against the tension of the spring cooperatingtherewith, and means operated by the piston-rod ofthe first-mentionedcylinder for actuating the means holding the piston-rod of thesecond-mentioned cylinder in the ascertained position aforesaid.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of the cylinders1 and 2, pistons operating in said cylinders, piston-rods eX- tendingfrom the pistons aforesaid, spring means for holding the pistons in apredetermined position, a catch cooperating with the piston-rod of thecylinder 1, means carried by the piston-rod of the cylinder 2 foractuating said catch, and a valve for the cylinder 2.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of the cylinders1 and 2, pistons operating in said cylinders, piston-rods eX- tendingfrom the pistons aforesaid, spring means for holding the pistons in apredetermined position, a catch cooperating with the piston-rod of thecylinder 1, means carried by the piston-rod of the cylinder 2 foractuand handles operatively connected with the piston-rods of thecylinders 1 and 2.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of the cylinders1 and 2, pistons operating in said cylinders, piston rods for saidpistons springs connecting the cylinders and the piston-rods for holdingthe pistons in a predetermined position, a catch 00- operating with thepiston-rod of the cyhnder 1, and means carried by the piston-rod of thecylinder 2 for actuating said catch.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of the cylinders1 and 2, pistons operating in said cylinders, piston-rods for saidpistons, springs connecting the cylinders and the piston-rods forholding the pistons in a predetermined position, a spring-actuated catchcooperating with the piston-rod of the cylinder 1, and means carried bythe pistonrod of the cylinder 2 for actuating said catch.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of the cylinders1 and 2, pistons operating in said cylinders, piston-rods for saidpistons, springs connecting the cylinders of the piston-rods for holdingthe pistons in a predetermined position, a catch cooperating with thepiston-rod of the cylinder 1, and a projection carried by the piston-rodof the cylinder 2 for actuating the catch aforesaid.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of the cylinders1 and 2, an outlet-cylinder 1, a valved outlet for the cylinder 2,pistons operating in the cylinders 1 and 2, piston-rods for saidpistons, springs arranged in the hollow portions of the piston rods forholding the pistons at a predetermined position, a catch cooperatingwith the piston-rod of the cylinder 1, and means car ried by thepistonrod of the cylinder 2 for actuating said catch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. GREENE.

